Newcastle United defender Dan Burn has opened up about the mental toll of competing on multiple fronts this season, admitting that the demands of playing in four different competitions have "mentally tested" him "quite a lot."
Speaking at the launch of the 'One of Our Own' initiative—a collaboration between the club and Newcastle City Council for Mental Health Awareness Week—the 34-year-old shared candid insights into his experiences with therapy, the Magpies' season, and his dreams of earning a spot in England's World Cup squad.
Burn has been a workhorse for Eddie Howe's side, racking up 42 appearances across all competitions despite missing a month with a bruised rib. Notably, he started 11 of Newcastle's 12 Champions League matches, a testament to his durability and importance to the team.
"Tough," Burn said when asked to describe the campaign. "Because we've attacked every competition, I think it's mentally tested me quite a lot this season."
He drew a comparison to elite clubs like Manchester City, who regularly juggle multiple competitions with apparent ease. "That's the goal and where we need to get to. It's something that we'll learn from," he added, highlighting the learning curve for a Newcastle side still finding its footing among Europe's elite.
Despite a challenging league campaign, the Magpies have plenty to be proud of. They reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and advanced to the Champions League round of 16, where they were ultimately knocked out by Barcelona. "Very, very proud," Burn reflected. "We are the first Newcastle team to get to the knockout stage of the Champions League, and I thought we went toe-to-toe for the majority of the games, but their quality shone through in the end."
Looking ahead, Burn remains optimistic about finishing the season strong. "I've loved this season. We've put in some very good performances, and we've got a good opportunity to finish the season long. There's not a lot of points between the teams around us, so you never know what might happen."
As Burn continues to balance the physical and mental demands of top-flight football, his openness about the challenges serves as a powerful reminder that even the toughest athletes need support—and that resilience is built one game at a time.